North Texas returns to Apogee Stadium Saturday afternoon for a nationally televised battle with the Ball State Cardinals. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports with the kickoff at 3 p.m.

The Mean Green dropped a six-point game on the road against Ohio and looks to remain unbeaten at home in the young season. Ball State is playing on the road for the first time this year after wins over Illinois State and Army at home to begin the year.

North Texas is going after its first 2-0 start at home to a season since the 2003 season. The Mean Green with a win can match its best start to a regular season after three games at 2-1 since 1994. The 2-1 start to the year would be the best for North Texas since returning to FBS football in 1995. Under head coach Dan McCarney the Mean Green is 8-4 at Apogee Stadium.

Brelan Chancellor leads the nation in punt returns after the first two weeks of the season. Chancellor is averaging 34.5 yards a punt return and has a total of 138 return yards on four returns. In just four returns after two games, Chancellor has already exceeded the entire North Texas team total in punt return yards for the last three years, covering 36 games. The Mean Green had only 129 punt return yards from 2010-12.

Through the first two games of the year John Skladany’s defense has surrendered just 33 points. It’s the fewest points allowed through the first two games of the year since 2002 and only the third time since returning to FBS football in 1995. The North Texas defense is second in C-USA in points allowed at just 16.5 a game.

Linebacker Zach Orr is fourth in Conference USA in tackles per game at 10.5, but second in total tackles with 21. He is on pace to enter the top-five all-time at North Texas in tackles for a career. He has 262, and at his current pace would finish third all-time. The school record is 386 held by Byron Gross

North Texas through two games is averaging only 3.5 yards a carry. Last season North Texas averaged 4.4 yards a rush. The Mean Green has yet break off a run of over 30-yards this season, where as last year North Texas had three rushes for over 30-yards after two games. Ball State is allowing 218 yards a game on the ground this season.